Violent attack, Cruisers injured, St Vincent & Grenadines, Union Island

[MarkJ]

Violent attack, Cruisers injured, St Vincent & Grenadines, Union Island

At 8:40pm 3 October sailing vessel Rainbow was anchored off Union Island at Frigate Island (aprox 12 34.9882 N 061 26.2582 W) which is attached to Union Island, St Vincent and the Grenadines when two people aboard Mark and Christina were attacked by machete wilding robbers.

Christina was very seriously wounded with a huge laceration to her face cutting through her cheek and through some teeth.
Mark was also lacerated but was able to reverse the situation.
The vessel Desiderata was monitoring Ch 66, the Grenada Cruisers Net repeater, and Rainbow’s calls for help were passed onto Rescue 1 which operates from Prickly Bay Marina, Grenada. With Rainbow taking the decision to head to better Medical Help in Carriacou, Grenada, Rescue 1 was able to liaise with Coast Guard, Police and authorities to have the Hillsborough wharf cleared and an Ambulance waiting.
Mark on Rainbow was able to get into Carriacou in just over an hour whilst administering first aid with advice via VHF66 from a nurse aboard SV Bella Blue and Dr Radix from Black Rock medical centre.

Christina is being flown to Grenada Friday morning 4 October, and Mark is bringing the boat down to St Georges.

To make matter worse, after Mark was released from hospital he fell between the wharf and his boat and was further lacerated and went back to hospital for another 7 stiches!
Boats we want to thank for their help last night
We see how important it is to have a radio repeater on VHF ch 66 and to monitor it overnight.


Notes:

Union island is not in Grenada. Frigate Island is attached to Union Island and is, as is Union Island, in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Rescue 1 is a private rescue service of the Prickly Bay Marina, Grenada, and is on call 24 hours each day. As well as the rescue vessel it provides excellent liaison between cruisers, Police, Coast Guard, and other Authorities.

VHF Channel 66 Repeater was privately donated to the Grenadian Government and is used by the Grenada Cruisers Net to provide coverage to all Grenadian waters. It can also be received in southern parts of St Vincent and the Grenadines and the northern parts of Trinidad including Chaguaramas Bay. The Grenada Cruisers Net supplies weather, advice, and information on many subjects to help make Cruisers’ stay in Grenada more rewarding. Its broadcast each day at 7:30 AM.


Mark